Christmas at the McGhies

We wanted to post some photos of our Christmas at home this year. We had a wonderful holiday together, but did miss our extended family.

We started our Christmas Eve with a traditional fondue dinner and Matt reading the Christmas Story from Luke 2. The kids "acted out" the story using the Little People Nativity set, then the kids had a sleepover in Kirsten's room.

Santa brought drumsets to both Kirsten and Dalton this year (and gave Angela a set of headphones). Kirsten has been playing percussion for three years and is really excited to have a full set to practice on.

We had a slow, relaxed Christmas morning. The kids were able to play with and enjoy each item that they opened. I don't have a photo, but Angela finally gave Matt he Bose Wave Music System he has wanted for five years. Matt got Angela a Cricut cutting system.

Do you think Dalton was happy to get a Buzz Lightyear? When Dalton got a little tired after playing all morning he watched "Toy Story" with is Buzz and Woody toys by his side.

Kirsten gave Dalton a new set of toy tools. He likes to wear the

tool belt and "work" around the house.

Angela is the camera operator there is not one photo of her on Christmas day. We will have to do better at taking turns with the camera next year. We did take a lot of video and did capture Angela in a few shots. We had a wonderful holiday and hope you did too!!

Williamsburg Thanksgiving

We had a great time at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. We went on a family trip for three days over Thanksgiving. It did get very cold, but we were able to balance indoor activities with outdoor ones and enjoy our holiday. We dressed up for an evening at the Capital of Williamsburg. Matt and Angela were invited to participate in the colonial dancing.

Matt was cast as a revolutionary leader in a colonial play.

Dalton learns to play a colonial game called "hoop and stick."

Kirsten plays colonial games with the locals.

The master of "hoop and stick."

Angela must have been in trouble (or at least willing to humor her kids).

Dalton learned to play his tin whistle just like the Fife and Drum Corps.

[I just love him in his tricorner hat.]

Colonial kids (after a night of dancing).

McGhies in front of the Govenor's Palace.

"I love sister, she loves me"

I took these pictures over the last few days. I would see my two kids together and know I needed to capture the moment. My kids really love each other! They love playing together and helping each other. What could make a mother happier?

Dalton is sick and Kirsten is watching movies with him

Playing gameboy together

Learning to play Monopoly

Hairdo time - playing with the mousse

I love them both with all my heart!

"Drummers can get straight A's"

Kirsten in her band shirt with her Gold award certificate

Kirsten's middle school had their 1st quarter awards assembly this week. They recognize students that have perfect attendance, outstanding achievement and good grades (Gold = all A's, Silver = A's and B's, etc). Kirsten played percussion with the Wind Ensemble for each of the assemblies. The band plays a fanfare for each of the Gold award recipients. The administrator says a few words about each student with all A's to honor them. When he was introducing Kirsten to come and get her Gold award he said "Kirsten is living proof that drummers can get straight A's." I thought that was a fun intro. She left her drums briefly to come and accept her award. If you can't already tell I am very pleased with all of her hard work in music and in school.

Life is Good

I was just feeling like my life is really good and I thought I would write about it. I am very blessed and am very grateful. I have a good husband and two beautiful children. We are striving to live the gospel and are currently very consistent with family scripture study (Thanks Matt). I get to be home with my children and also do family history. I am excited to be the new Assistant Director of the Family History Center. There are so many resources that are new and coming out soon that it is a great time to be involved in genealogy.

I had a fun time talking to my mom on the phone today. She asked about the family and we are all doing pretty well right now. Dalton had fun at playgroup this morning. He really loves to go and play with his friends, and I enjoy talking with mine. He is an adorable two year old and warms my heart with the cute things he does every day. He is happy and healthy and so I couldn't ask for more.

Kirsten is also doing well. School is good and her social life is good, so therefore "life is good." She just started her second quarter in middle school and things have calmed down from the last two weeks when she had projects due and exams. Middle school has been up and down, but right now it is up.

Our family is busy, but not frantic. We are enjoying activities and time together. I am working to get my class finished up so that I can prepare for an enjoyable holiday season. I hope that this year we can really focus on gratitude at Thanksgiving and our Savior at Christmas.

I am grateful for the contentness that I feel.

Blog formatting

I guess I am still learning about the blogger formatting. I thought I had my Halloween post all layed out perfectly. I previewed and everything looked good. Then when I uploaded it seemed to lose all my instructions and rearranged my photos. Suggestions from those of you with more experience are welcome.

Halloween

Kirsten and Dalton had a great Halloween. Dalton dressed up as a knight, which he really loved after going to Medieval Times last week. Kirsten and I worked together to make her a poodle skirt. Matt even helped stich the poodle applique. She and I were matching at the ward "Trunk or Treat," and Matt and Dalton were both knights. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so we don't have "matching" pictures. Dalton and his friends dressed up for their weekly playgroup. The kids went trick or treating on Halloween each with their own friends. Kirsten went with Katie and Dalton with with Calvin and Jared. They came home and had great fun sorting and sharing their candy.

Down on the Farm

Dalton says "mine friends."

Dalton's playgroup took a field trip to a local farm this month. They had a great time petting animals, going on a hay ride, feeding goats, eating a picnic lunch and playing on the playground.

Dalton on his "pony ride." The pony was bigger than we had expected, but he had a great time!

Feeding the sheep and hugging the goat. As a 2 year old he says "mine goat."

Knights and Ladies

Our family had a great time at Medieval Times tonight! We dressed up as Knights and Ladies and went to the Tournament. We cheered for the black and white knight and ate a feast. Dalton really loved waving his flag for his knight! He liked his helmet with feathers on it even more when he saw the knights in their helmets with feathers. He is excited to be a knight for Halloween. Kirsten was a real lady and cheered a little more properly than Dalton. Thanks Matt for taking us all out.

Dalton and Dad

Learning to play checkers.
Helping mow the lawn.

Angela's Arm Twisting

Angela insisted that I write something about my week, even though I don't have anything interesting to say. Well, I was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) last week -- no big deal. I will have surgery to remove the small growth from my face on October 30th. I put my own name in the temple on Friday (that's a first). Afterwards I stopped off at the temple visitor's center to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir display. The highlight was the interactive exhibit that gave me a chance to conduct the choir.
On Friday morning, I took Kirsten and Dalton to the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge to see the beautiful fall foliage, where we got caught in a downpour 1/2 mile from the car (first significant rainfall in over a month). After noticing how low the lake levels were, we talked about praying for rain, but the Lord answered our prayers in advance.
Dalton has a new fort in the backyard, which we call "Fort Adventure". Photos will be posted soon. A couple of months ago our bishop asked the ward to read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year. We are reading about every 5th chapter as a family and the rest on our own. My seminary class just finished Genesis last week, so I need to keep my head in the scriptures during my train ride to work each day just to stay caught up.
Well, since I have fulfilled my commitment, I will sign off now.

Sunday Morning Posts

We decided as a family to post to our blog on Sunday mornings. We want to record more of what our family is doing to keep you informed and to record it for our family history. This morning there is a problem with uploading photos to blogger, so we will just write entries today and upload our photos when it is working.

Dalton is in a weekly playgroup with eight of his friends from church. We have been meeting at the park, and this week took a field trip to the farm. It is still 70-80 degrees here, but when the weather does get cold we will move to playgroup to rotate to all the friends' homes. Dalton also enjoys playing in his new fort (given to us by some neighbors) and going to storytime at the library. He has a new Tball set and is getting pretty good at hitting the ball.

Kirsten is loving Middle School. See her post for details.

I (Angela) have a new calling as Assitant Family History Center Director. I am excited to be in charge of training, especially with the New Family Search coming soon. I am working very hard to finish my last four assignments for the American Genealogy class I have been taking for the last few years. I have learned so much, and the end is in sight!

Matt is still teaching seminary and is back singing in the Mormon Choir of Washington DC. He likes to take the kids out to do fun things on Saturdays, especially if I am off speaking at or attending a genealogy seminar. Hopefully he will post his own entry on this family blog soon.

We will try to keep to our Sunday morning schedule for new entries so that you can stay informed about our family.

'sup family?

'sup family?

Middle School is doing gr8 & I like all of my classes (exept Geography (-:)! For related arts I have World languages and Art! In WL I am studying German! Guten Tag! also in art I am making a clay pot shaped like a frog! :-) ! I got in Book Club, which is really fun to read a book then have a disscusion about it each month!!! i got into MHTV (Murray Hill TV) as a telepromter. I get to run the TV that shows the national news person what to say! At the begining of the school year I was in symphonic band, the middle band, but the director said that I was so good, she moved me up to Wind Ensemble! That is the highest band in the whole school!!!!! Next year I will be the drum major since there is no 7th grade percussionists! I am really excited!!! We are doing Oklahoma in drama and I am sure that it will be a blast! I LOVE MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!

KIRSTEN MCGHIE

Back home with kids

The great thing about being away for a few days is coming home to your family. They really miss you when you are gone. The other great thing was coming home to a clean kitchen. Matt did all the dishes while I was gone. I love playing with my kids, and having a little buddy that goes with me everywhere (today was our errand day). I am very grateful to Michelle and Mendy for taking care of my kids while I was gone (along with Matt of course).

Fabulous Conference

I am joining my friends and family and creating a blog. Usually I will write about my family, but right now I am in Richmond at the National Genealogical Society Conference. It is fabulous!! I am here with my best friend Rebecca and we are learning all kinds of new things from the top professionals in the field. It is a real motivation to get back working on finding my ancestors.